The governors of Oregon, Washington, and California have announced the formation of the Western Health Alliance, a new public health partnership designed to safeguard access to vaccines in their states. This initiative aims to develop independent immunization guidelines that will be based on recommendations from respected national medical organizations. The announcement was made in a joint statement from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
In their statement, the governors expressed concern over the recent politicization of vaccine guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They stated, “The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences. California, Oregon, and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk.” This declaration follows a tumultuous week for the CDC, marked by the dismissal of its director, Susan Monarez, appointed by the previous administration, after she resisted vaccine policy changes favored by Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr..
The upheaval at the CDC has prompted criticism from former agency leaders. Nine ex-directors, who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations, condemned Kennedy’s leadership in an op-ed published in The New York Times. In response, Kennedy wrote in the Wall Street Journal that he is working to “restore the public’s trust in the CDC” and improve the perception of vaccine science by addressing bias and conflicts of interest.
Dr. Sejal Hathi, the head of the Oregon Health Authority, emphasized the importance of vaccines, stating, “Vaccines are among the most powerful tools in modern medicine; they have indisputably saved millions of lives. But when guidance about their use becomes inconsistent or politicized, it undermines public trust at precisely the moment we need it most.”
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new round of COVID-19 vaccines but limited access to high-risk groups. The CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices is scheduled to meet this month to provide guidance on vaccination recommendations. This comes after Kennedy replaced all 17 members of the advisory committee with individuals who have previously criticized vaccines and spread misinformation.
The state governors have a history of collaborating on public health issues, having previously formed the “Western States Pact” in 2020 to coordinate pandemic-related responses and review federal vaccine recommendations. Oregon, Washington, and California were among the last states to lift their mask mandates during the pandemic.
As tensions escalate between these states and the Trump administration, particularly regarding immigration enforcement, Newsom has publicly criticized the president on social media. The governors have not yet detailed how the Western Health Alliance will influence vaccine availability in their states, given that the FDA manages vaccine approvals and state legislatures typically determine school vaccination requirements. One potential avenue for collaboration could be bulk purchasing agreements for vaccines, considering the combined population of over 50 million across the three states.
The formation of this alliance marks an important step as these states seek to navigate the evolving landscape of public health amidst political challenges, aiming to ensure that their residents maintain access to vital immunizations.